James Madison

[goapps93]

I think a team we have so much anymosity toward would be a great add for the conference. It would make for another great rivalry.

[AppfaninCAALand]

They are as close to a peer institution as anyone around us.

I agree with most of this post but wanted specifically to comment on the part I have excerpted above. I moved to Richmond, Virginia a few years after graduating from App and quickly became acquainted with grads from many of VA's universities. I was suprised how many long time VA residents were not particularly familiar with App, one of the neighboring state's leading universities. As I became more familiar with VA universities myself, I very soon came to compare my alma mater to JMU in discussions with acquaintances.

App State is to NC what JMU is to VA - both are former state regional teachers colleges that have grown into their respective state's premier undergraduate university, both attract a similarly profiled high performing student body, who rather than seek out the state's flagship (or are just below the state's elite schools), instead want a small mountain town college experience right out of HS away from home yet still in-state.

I know enough JMU fans, and have enough respectful hatred for the school, that I would really enjoy sharing a conference with the Fumblin' Dukies. After Marshall, they would be my next choice for a Sun Belt addition.

[NewApp]

They are as close to a peer institution as anyone around us.

I agree with most of this post but wanted specifically to comment on the part I have excerpted above. I moved to Richmond, Virginia a few years after graduating from App and quickly became acquainted with grads from many of VA's universities. I was suprised how many long time VA residents were not particularly familiar with App, one of the neighboring state's leading universities. As I became more familiar with VA universities myself, I very soon came to compare my alma mater to JMU in discussions with acquaintances.

App State is to NC what JMU is to VA - both are former state regional teachers colleges that have grown into their respective state's premier undergraduate university, both attract a similarly profiled high performing student body, who rather than seek out the state's flagship (or are just below the state's elite schools), instead want a small mountain town college experience right out of HS away from home yet still in-state.

I know enough JMU fans, and have enough respectful hatred for the school, that I would really enjoy sharing a conference with the Fumblin' Dukies. After Marshall, they would be my next choice for a Sun Belt addition.

Wasn't James Madison once an all female college?

[hapapp]

They are as close to a peer institution as anyone around us.

I agree with most of this post but wanted specifically to comment on the part I have excerpted above. I moved to Richmond, Virginia a few years after graduating from App and quickly became acquainted with grads from many of VA's universities. I was suprised how many long time VA residents were not particularly familiar with App, one of the neighboring state's leading universities. As I became more familiar with VA universities myself, I very soon came to compare my alma mater to JMU in discussions with acquaintances.

App State is to NC what JMU is to VA - both are former state regional teachers colleges that have grown into their respective state's premier undergraduate university, both attract a similarly profiled high performing student body, who rather than seek out the state's flagship (or are just below the state's elite schools), instead want a small mountain town college experience right out of HS away from home yet still in-state.

I know enough JMU fans, and have enough respectful hatred for the school, that I would really enjoy sharing a conference with the Fumblin' Dukies. After Marshall, they would be my next choice for a Sun Belt addition.

Wasn't James Madison once an all female college?

Yes it was. It was known as Madison College in the day. I had quite few of my female teachers in high school who were Madison alums. That was Radford's and Longwood's history as well.

[havefunkc]

Furple will always be bad optics. JMU in the same conference as us, that's a different conversation...